Wednesday, July 05, 2006

- continued -

There is a "must" sight-seeing spot in Cambodia - Angkor Wat.

Angkor Wat is located at Siem Reap province, which includes over 600 buildings. They were built by the great Angkor dynasty since 9th century for over 400 years. Wat means temple. The ancient Cambodian worship the Buddist and so they built all these wats, believing the god would protect them and maintain their prosperity. Certainly they did not help, yet they made Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in Asia, a cultural-rich place.

Since the rainy season lies from April to September, it is the low season of tourism in Cambodia. From October to March, the sunset and sunrise in Angkor Wat is very beautiful. They would absolutely kill the film in your camera.

You need to be a good walker if you want to walk around Angkor Wat. The steps are very steep and narrow. There are so many wats as well that make you confused. Sometimes they look all the same. There are one-day pass, three-day pass and one-week pass. People usually choose three, but if you are getting bored with the wats you better not do that.

A lot of souvenirs can be bought in Siem Reap. However most of them are not made in Cambodia but Thailand as they did not develop their own outstanding art besides the buddist and Angkor.

Reading a magazine after I came back to Hong Kong, I was told there was a tour provided if people want to see how poor the Cambodians are. I feel pathetic because it should not be the way that people try to raise the public concern or make money by exhibiting their poorness. Yet I know it is just under the pressure from reality. No one can stop this.

Siem Reap has developed into a tourist province, which is completely different from most of the other provinces in Cambodia.

I truly miss this country.

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